Brewed with native Pennsylvania neck pumpkins harvested just a few miles from our brewery at Strites’ Orchard, Master of Pumpkins conjures the spirit of autumn by combining roasted pumpkins and traditional pie spices with a French saison yeast. This natural fermentation releases a palate of vanilla, cinnamon, clove, nutmeg, ginger, and honey. In addition to 750mL bottles, Master of Pumpkins is also currently available on draft and for take-out growler fills in the Tasting Room. Taste it you will see. More is all you need!

Beer: Reviews & Ratings

Pours a deep copper color. Smell of pumpkin soup, malt sweetness, slight spices. The taste has pumpkin, crust, clove and a slight earthiness. The pumpkin has a distinct taste, all I could describe it with would be "gourd". Smooth, good level of carbonation. A unique pumpkin ale with earthy and spicy flavors. (333 characters)

Realized I still had some pumpkin beers to get through, so hopefully this isn't too bad. Lots of empty space in the beck of the bottle, for a cork and cage that's a little dicey... Pours a light fizzy head that fades fairly quickly, light spots of lacing, hazy sediment laden amber orange red color.

Nose is about what I expected, lots of pumpkin and gourd like earthy aromas, some biscuit malts with caramel and toasty reddish malts, some spices in the background thankfully lighter side, like cinnamon, ginger and others, a sweet syrupy like note in the aroma as well.

Taste brings a big holiday spice flavor, tons of ginger, like I just bit a gingerbread cookie so much ginger, some cinnamon and plenty of clove as well, others perhaps, a lot more spices on the flavor than on the aroma. Mild pumpkin in the background, hints of a gourd like pumpkin, mixing with the sweet malts, not really syrupy thankfully, a little caramel and biscuit, mild doughy toasty biscuit pumpkin pie crust. The gourd flavor gets vegetal and almost rancid unfortunately. Finish is semi sweet, a touch of warming booze and a little pumpkin gourd flavor as well as plenty of ginger and spices lingering for a while.

Overall mixed, it has some nice characters, nose wasn't bad, but the ginger and spice level of the flavor was way too much, and the vegetal gourd flavor was a little icky, thankfully not too sweet or syrupy though. So still a bit enjoyable. (1,517 characters)

Poured into the center of the tulip as instructed, nice white head that quickly fades away. really strong amber colored beer

Getting some nice cinnamon on the nose. Really pleasant smelling. Also picking up vanilla and honey, along with pumpkin..

Medium bodied beer

Getting a lot of carbonation, nice vanilla and honey is coming through. love the use of French saison yeast. It doesn't leave the same mouthfeel or taste/aftertaste you usually get with a pumpkin ale. (518 characters)

Not sure where the 750ml bottles went but I found this 375 ml bottle for a final cost of 5 dollars which is fair for such a limited release. Into a pint glass.

A - Glad to report the Saison Yeast didn't make for huge carbonation just a 1/2 inch that seems to fade out rather fast. Color is a hazy deep brown yet clear.S - Not too vegital which is nice mild notes of pumpkin spices mostly cinnamon and nutmeg greet and meet. Slight ginger spice and some sour notes seem to be their as well.T - Interesting the Yeast seems in fact does bring some vanilla to the table. Vegital bitterness is their to keep it interesting with some hop twang and the cinnamon/ all spice to is their to compliment. Good!M - As expected for 7% its right in line medium bodied yet thick enough to be an end of session offering.

Overall WOW I was actually impressed they could pull this off! With the addition to Saison yeast is always tricky to be carbonated right and even more so to give the beer an extreme sour note this beer is exceptionally well crafted! I actually liked this better than the Triple offering I really hope they keep brewing this! Made my top 3 for best pumpkin ales of this year! (1,183 characters)

From a bottle, pours a dark copper with ruby hues, some bubbles but almost zero head, and it what does build disappears to nothing quickly.

The nose is pumpkins, some rustic funk, definitely get the saison yeast backbone in the smell. It is very bready, pie crust, a little vanilla.

The flavor is balanced, not really all that sweet. Fresh pumpkin seeds, fall spice, a bit nutty, with just faint honey sweetness. The honey flavor is the only sweet part. The pumpkin is not too dominant and mixes well.

Mouthfeel is good, dry finish. I like this. It's a good pumpkin beer. (582 characters)

i think this one is way underrated. one of the most flavorful pumpkin beers of the season, brilliant dark orangy rusty amber in color, rich off white head with great retention and ring lacing. a nose of squash first, honey for sure, and a funky yeast that doesnt exactly seem like saison, but definitely champagne like with complimentary fruity esters. nutmeg and allspice are there, roast, and caramel sweetness, its lovely aromatically. the flavor is just as good, with the spice profile balancing the sweet pumpkin very well. almost tastes more like acorn or butternut squash than pumpkin, but that works too. sweet in the finish, honey and malt together, very nice, but the yeast lets it not linger, and adds jovial carbonation that doesnt quit even at room temperature. i like the complexity here, and believe this one deserves a bit more attention. the yeast is so cool, nice to have a yeasty pumpkin brew, i think its a perfect fall beer, just fantastic from troegs. (973 characters)

Tastes of sweet pumpkin pie, graham cracker, cinnamon, clove, and ginger. Any hop presence is subtle and blends with the bitterness of the clove.

Medium body with a tingly carbonation on the roof of the mouth.

One of the most heavily spiced pumpkin ales I've had, I can see how this beer might be divisive even among fans of pumpkin ales, but for my money it is quite good and maybe even fantastic. Certainly a dessert beer, and only for those who like the presence of cinnamon and cloves. If that sounds like it is up your alley, this could easily be a top 5 pumpkin ale. (783 characters)

Appearance: Dark Amber/Orange closing in on a light brown. Off white colored head that produces little cling of any kind. Retention is below average. Aroma: Pumpkin spices are the primary aroma with clove hitting extremely hard then some flavors of sugar, both brown and white. Slight pumpkin aroma in the back.Taste: The clove hits harder in the flavoring but I get more pumpkin as well. The beer is again slightly sweet with sugars. I pick up ginger now. I also get some malts providing an earthy/hay even dirt flavor. Mouthfeel: Medium bodied. Medium carbonation. I get no alcohol warmth despite the 7.2 abv. A little dry to finish. (719 characters)

Taste: Pumpkin pie-like. Tastes likes it smells. Clove flavored, slightly dry finish. I really liked it for what it is.

Feel: Kind of thin. Mild carbonation. Slightly dry finish.

Overall: I really enjoyed this beer for what it is - a specialty Fall beer. I thought the smell was awesome and the flavor of pumpkin pie very good. I would gladly drink this again when I was in the mood for a pumpkin flavored beer. (673 characters)

Bottle dated best by ??? 2015:Beer poured a slightly reddish auburn with very little head in a medium-light pour. Head does remain around edges in about the same level as shortly after the pour. Agitation brings back a thin amount of head. The nose is the darker spices of pumpkin pie - nutmeg, maybe some clove. The beer also smells a bit like an amber ale.

The taste follows the nose pretty well, which isn't a strong point. The taste starts a bit on the English bitter end, with a tartness (presumably from any pumpkin used). The spice comes through a bit better as the beer warm, but has a bite to it, also - almost like they used spicy cinnamon (the bite is similar to a fresh ginger bite). I am missing a bit of maltiness in the front that I would enjoy in the style. The feel is pretty light, perhaps because of this. The lack of carbonation is noticeable, but the beer does not taste flat.

The spice is a tad too strong on top of a beer a tad too weak. Two minor infractions that when paired with seeming like a style I am not a huge fan of leads to a lower rating for me. (1,093 characters)

I wanted more of a sweeter taste. I noticed a clove taste that was just too pungent. The spice notes left too much of an undesired aftertaste. But if that's what the brewer was aiming for then they accomplished that. I would try again though. (243 characters)

Very aromatic and tasty. Heavy on the pumpkin spice and graham and pretty sweet. A bit of a saison thing happening too. My wife and I really enjoyed it with the delicious pumpkin roll from their kitchen. A desert beer for sure. Like it for what it is. (296 characters)

12.7oz corked & caged bottle poured into a pint glass. Pours burnt golden with a subtle haze; nice fluffy white head that fades and leaves decent retention and little lacing. The aromas are subtle with hints of caramel malts, cinnamon and anise. French vanilla is there. The Belgian yeast is definitely present as well. The flavors are very nice. Tons of clove. Cinnamon and ginger is there. Lots of apple. It definitely has that spicy black pepper vibe going on, which you would find in a saison. More vanilla in the mix. The yeast is always there, but it's balanced and not overwhelming at all. Mouthfeel is awesome. It's highly carbonated and extremely smooth; medium-bodied. Dangerously drinkable. Alcohol goes unnoticed.

This is a nice unique take on the style. They deliver what they advertised. I think they perfectly balanced the mix between a Pumpkin Ale and a Saison. It can become redundant at times, but it's a really fun beer to drink. The craftsmanship that Troegs has perfected gives it extra credit. Not sure why people seem so down on this beer. (1,064 characters)

Poured a corked 12.7oz bottle into glass. abv not shown on bottle but listed at 7.4% on here.

Appearance- Pours a dark orange with a two finger off white head that dissipates fast.

Smell- Belgian yeast over-rules along with hints of fresh pumpkin and very mild spice notes.

Taste- Candy sugar yeasty sweetness typical of your Belgian styles. The pumpkin is there but only slightly. Minimal spices to the taste.

Mouthfeel- Medium heavy in body, active carbonation.

Overall- I was a bit dissappointed since the pumkin taste was lacking but this beer is full of Belgian flavor. I'd be more satisfied if this was called a pumpkin flavored saison, since that is what it is. "Master of Pumpkins" is a strong solid name and is a tad misleading since I thought I was going to get a pumpkin blast. The yeast flavor still is superb in terms of a saison. (849 characters)

I hate to say it but troegs blew it with this one- I normally like them and thought I'd give this a try but In the end down the drain it goes.

Color is rather pretty however; clear Amber mahogany with minimal head lace retention.

Smell and taste are extremely spice heavy- particularly a lot of clove but pretty much everything you'd expect like nutmeg and cinnamon. A little pumpkin but the spices are pretty brutal. There is some saison yeast but it's hidden.

Mouthfeel is fine- medium body, well carbonated. Don't get this beer- I rarely say that. If you love clove cigarettes this may be your jam however. (613 characters)

(A)ppearance – Amber base with dark orange hues. a little foggy with a minimal head that although is thin, never seems to break up - it stays with the beer throughout the experience. The head sticks to the glass, receding evenly.

(S)mell – Sweet roasted pumpkin with cinnamon and other seasonal scents (the usual suspects - nutmeg, clover, and honey and evident among others)

(T)aste – Real pumpkin taste with cinnamon, nutmeg, and yeast (yeast… similar to other Troges brews I've had?). Very even on and pleasing to taste with no notable aftertaste and no overage of any flavor or spice in particular, as I have found common in pumpkin beers. The yeast has enough presence you can close your eyes and almost taste pumpkin pie and/or bread - you get to choose!

(M)outhfeel – Medium thickness with slightly lower carbonation than other comparable brews. I've had thinner and thicker - it flows evenly but not too quickly. I like this a lot! This is an absolute pleasure on the palate! The flavors blend and balance evenly.

(O)verall - Coming from someone who does NOT like pumpkin beers in general… This is one of the best pumpkin beers I have ever had. I do recommend chilling this one a little more than you may others (42-44F?) as it accents the fog/haze nicely and the chill compliments the balance of flavor. As Master of Pumpkins warms to room temperature the experience changes, providing a full spectrum beverage experience. The only downside is the price, but in this case I believe you get what you pay for and I am glad I got it! (1,647 characters)

Appearance – The beer is served a deep burnt orange color with a little bit of haze and a one finger head of white foam. The head has a decent level of retention, slowly fading to leave a bit of streaky lace on the sides of the glass.

Smell – The aroma of the brew is heaviest of a nice roasted pumpkin smell along with some sweeter aromas of caramel and brown sugar. Some standard pumpkin spice aromas of a cinnamon and nutmeg are there as well, overall producing a mid-level in intensity pumpkin pie smell.

Taste – The taste begins with a nice roasted pumpkin flavor with a good deal of a caramel and brown sugar sweetness. Along with these flavors comes notes of a lighter spice profile of a cinnamon and nutmeg as well as a little bit of allspice. The spice flavors remain at a more subdued level however and just add a nice complement to the brew. Some more bready and doughy flavors as well as some more sweetness of a brown sugar nature come to the tongue, leaving a rather pleasant and slightly sweeter pumpkin pie flavor to linger on the tongue.

Mouthfeel – The body of the brew is on the slightly thicker to average side with a carbonation level that is rather average. Both are good for the pumpkin flavors of the brew and with the lack of super heavy spice create a rather nice drinker.

Overall - A quite nice easy drinking pumpkin ale that is on the sweeter and not overly spiced side. A good brew. (1,466 characters)

M: Slick and oily. Moderately-high carbonation. A tad dry on the finish.

T/O: Roast pumpkin mid, finished with ginger, heavy dosage of cinnamon, and quite a lot of clove. Overall herbal sweetness reminiscent to Pumking to an extent. Honey nectar and vanilla lavender. Nice interplay b/t spice and sweet. I guess this would be a 'harvest saison.' While having the same bones as Pumking, the experience isn't nearly as decadent, and a deal spicier. (744 characters)

The beer pours a light and white bubbly head that dissipates after a while. The beer itself is a deep hazy and dark orange. The beer has very strong notes that dominate the other smells. The pumpkin is noticeable and mixes with the clover such that it's hard to distinguish the two. Other notes include light hints of cinnamon on the edge of the clove and pumpkin. The beer taste is a bit different from the smell. The clove is still strong but weaker when compared to the other notes. The pumpkin is much stronger in the taste but still struggles to distinguish itself from the clove notes. The cinnamon is more pronounced and provides a nice last in the aftertaste. The ale is medium bodied with very little carbonation and the lighter side of the medium bodied spectrum. Overall, a decent pumpkin ale and worth getting at least once. (837 characters)

Pour is reddish copper with a thin tan ring. Nose is light pumpkin with fair bit of spice. Some grain balance and a touch of banana bread. Taste is heavier pumpkin spice with a hint of apple cider and a touch of banana bread. Fairly strong carb with a medium to full body. (275 characters)